Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-11-27

CHANGING at me askance:
I shrugged my shoulders. LOOK Tor
yourself" ! said CURLY.
He stepped forward and saw what |
had already noticed-that the bolt was
shot. but not in the socket Something
/ like stined curse escaped him: lie
turned. muttering that could only get
the material [ needed in Madrid.
"That is unfortunate. But what have
Won cot here ?" asked. advancing step
into the room. "What capital bit OF
painting 1t is Ribera, il 1t not 1t
must be !" And, forgetting in my eager
ness everything save that l had before
me singularly good copy OF a fine pic
ture, actually waved him aside when
he would have interposed. "No one
but Ribera," cried, STOPPING over 1t,
could paint those lights and shadows
No one 1t lisa genuine Spagnoletto Tor
a Hundred !"
ct is a copyl" burst from him in q
tone of vivid contradiction.
"a copy!" repeated after him in
wonder. "A copy! Of course it is.
So supposed. Rlberas do not grow on
every bush. my friend. | meant that
the original was .RIbera, and not mere
/ " of his school. But now You speak OF
/ it, and went down on my knees, are
youso sure that is a copy? How bright
are these high lights, yet how mellow
and see the depth of the coloriDg here,
and the tawny tone over all by
heavens" / said rising and facing him
abruptly, "it is not a copy
at is !" he cried furiously, 81 say it
isl Do Riberas grow on every bush,
mailman ?"
The word and the passion he threw
into it sobered me at once. 81 beg
your PARDON" [ said. q forgot my
self. | am sorry for it. But the opinion
have uttered IS my opinion still. And
if do not make mistake. L went on,
eveing him shrewdly, sit is yours, too.
l fancy, my friend, that you had Just
made the discovery when came IN, and
that You dared hardly entertain it. 1t is
no wonder that such thing threw you
off your balance"
For he was trembling still, and CHANGING
from me to the painting and back again
in distraught fashion. " Yes, he said
at length, getting out his words with
difficulty, al thought it possible, Just
possible. but how very, very lmproba'
bic !"
Eyes, very improbabl9 if, as | sup
pose, You bought the picture for copy;
But where did you get it?' l asked
briskly. / thought that | was beginning
to understand him.
81 bought it from priest for an old
song at Almonacid.
"At Almonacid ?"
He moved uneasily, as if he would
have recalled his last word But 1T was
too late, and he nodded assent. "Ihen,
after all, it was you whom L saw that
dav?" | commented. "Hou had just
bought it, l suppose "
Eyes. / had a doubt about 1t then.
alt Is strange story, but strange
things happen" 1 said, watching him
narrowly.
" 1t is true"
OF course pretended to believe him,
and seeing clearly that he wished me
gone / took myself to my room. In part
/ did believe him, only l thought 1t
strange that an artist of his kidney
should be so greatly ashamed of
having outwitted an old Monk so great
" ashamed rs to tell the story OF his
cleverness in that hang-dog fashion. 1t
crossed my mind that / might be wrong
in my Judgment of the picture. 1t
might be that the st. Christopher was
only copy after all, and Client himself
had made it, and was even then when l
broke in upon him having 1t out with
his conscience whether he should pass 1t
off for an Original or not. That was
possible but to me he had been friend
in need, and it WAS no bushes OF mine.
The next day, the 18th of January,
was to be the last of my stay IN Toledo.
I had all but finish ed the sketches | re-
ouired. and, if the truth must be told, l
longed to be away. The stiffness of the
place haunted me. | hated the huge
square Mcazar which lowered over all,
the Moorish gateways, the hundred ST.
lent churches. By noon | had made an
end of my work, and hastily putting
inside nv materials / called Jock and
started for long ramble over the bills,
where the AlcaZar did not bar the sun
shine. though it was impossible to get
ont of SIGHT of it, l did not return I'M
Ill darkness drove me back into the
town.
Then I saw at once that there was
something strange on foot. In the
streets was an unwonted hustle, which
rather grew than lessened as L approach.
ed the middle of the town. Knots OF
people carrying faggots passed hurriedly
or stood together at the streetcorners.
The Zocodover was thronged. As-in
mart curious andiin part annoyed was
pushing my way through the crowd a
clock struck 6, and, set IN motion by
that signal. the bells in every towerburst
into sound. [ was brought to n stand
still. 1 had just time to wonder what
il meant, when, as If by magic, the
bright glare of hundred fires leaped up
above the crowd, and glowing holly on
pillar and gable, flung huge shadows on
the very steeples, and exposed at once
hundred silhouettes.
1t was weird yet beautiful sight. 1t
pleased me TO find it repeated in every
/ street and open space l entered. spent
/ fully an hour, tired as / WAS, in hurrying
I'M and down to mark the effect of the
]
freight on this facade or that archway.
And when at length tore myself away
and went home made quickly for the
parlor to talk of what l had seen.
81 say, Client! began. Have you
been out :? What is it.? What does it
all mean ?"
Such a nervous fellow as he was He
jumped up, dropping his spoon into his
plate with n clatter. "What does what
mean ?" he suffered.
"These bonfres in the streets. to be
sure The sight isl most singular one
You ought to be out viewing it. ."
He sat down at once. "Oh, the bon
firesl" he said, esuming his meal.
1.-The people are keeping st. Anthonys
eve, that is all. 1t is customary here to
do it in this way. You know st. Anthony
is always represented with fire by his
side"
81 thought that it was something OF
that kind" answered, following his ex-
ample. "Will you come out with me
presently and have n look at the town ?